ORLAND – Edward Jenkins “Mooney” Craig II, 90, died July 31, 2009, in Orland. His journey to death was attended with love by several of his brother, Ben’s children, two days after leaving Eastern Maine Medical Center. Mooney wanted to die at home – his nieces and nephews, in particular, nephew, John Craig, made sure that happened. He died, finally, peacefully. Mooney was born Edward Jenkins Craig Jr., May 7, 1919, in Kingman, to Edward J. and Ursula (Daigle) Craig. The most important events in life were his marriage to Pauline Gaddis in 1941; his enlistment in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1942; and the birth of his two sons. While in the Marines, Mooney was commended for his service as an enlisted staff sergeant, forward echelon, first Marine aircraft wing, for meritorious devotion to duty during the Guadalcanal Campaign, and the Bougainville, British Solomon Islands and Green Islands landings and operations; he believed once a Marine, always a Marine. After his tour of duty in the Marines, Mooney returned to Bucksport and began a career at St. Regis Paper Co. He absorbed papermaking, passing knowledge of it on to his son, Jimmy. He lived papermaking most of his adult life, and even as recently as his 90th birthday party, he spent time “making paper” with retired papermaking friends. Mooney is survived by his older sister, Alice Brooks, who lives in Texas; and by nieces and nephews spread across the country from Maine to Alaska, including on the Craig side: John Craig, Christy Cross, Robert Craig, Susan Dugas, Tim Craig, Paula Webster, Marianne Mylen, Gerry Craig, Ben Craig, Matt Craig, Warren Stone, Raymond Stone, Ronald Craig Jr., Cecil Craig Jr. and Ursula Smith; and on the Gaddis side: Barbara Hansen, Patricia Noddin, Sally Bartlett, Lorraine Knowles, Sandra Foster, Sue Hood, Brenda Smith, Beverly Deschambeault, Pamela Cochran and Paula McLaughlin and Kurt Foster; and a special great-nephew. He was predeceased by his parents; his wife, Pauline, in 2001; his son, Edward Jenkins Craig III, who died in infancy; his son, James E. Craig, who died accidentally in 2005; and his brothers, Ben W.D. Craig, Cecil P. Craig, and twins, Ronald and Roland Craig. Mooney lived his life with courage and dignity and with an incredible wit fully intact until just hours before his death; he was fiercely loyal to those he loved, served generously as the Craig family patriarch, and was devoted to his sister, Alice. Above all however, Mooney missed his wife, Pauline and their son, Jimmy, and spent many hours reliving through pictures and stories the times of their lives. Family and friends will gather for a funeral service 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 17, at Mitchell-Tweedie Funeral Home, 28 Elm St., Bucksport, with the Rev. Linda A. Smith officiating. Interment with military honors will be afterward at Riverview Cemetery, River Road, North Bucksport. A reception after the interment will take place at Edward K. Arey Hall, River Road, North Bucksport. Donations in Mooney’s memory may be made to Hancock County Homecare and Hospice, P.O. Box 156, Blue Hill, ME 04614 or Bucksport Area Veterans’ Memorial, P.O. Box 223, Bucksport, ME 04416.
EDWARD JENKINS ‘MOONEY’ CRAIG II
